The UP government stated that IAS Abhishek Prakash has violated the All India Services (conduct) rules -1968 section -3 and has been suspended with immediate effect.
IAS Abhishek Prakash, the former District Magistrate of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has hogged the headlines recently after allegations of corruption and abuse of power emerged against him, resulting in his suspension. According to details, the IAS officer is accused of usurping state-owned land and amassing benami property worth crores of rupees.
What are the allegations against IAS Abhishek Prakash?
The allegations against Abhishek Prakash were brought to the fore by BJP leader Mahesh Pandey, who alleged that the Invest UP CEO was involved in a major corruption scam in the Bareilly International City Project, a township worth Rs 8000 crore, spread over 600 acres of state land, which the IAS officer allegedly acquired via a builder named Raju Khandelwal.
In his complaint, the BJP leader alleged that Abhishek Prakash acquired benami properties in Aonla, Sadar and Faridpur tehsils of Uttar Pradesh, funneling his ill-gotten wealth via a nexus of several builders. The suspended officer is also accused of filling up 113 ponds and constructing over that land, in clear violation of Supreme Court’s orders.
Pandey, who first approached the High Court with allegations against Prakash, is now preparing to file a complaint against the tainted officer with the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Yogi govt suspends IAS Abhishek Prakash
Following the allegations, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government ordered the immediate suspension of IAS Abhishek Prakash for purportedly seeking bribe through a middleman named Nikant Jain to approve a solar power plant project. Prakash is accused of using Jain, who has since been arrested, to demand 5% of the said project’s total cost as commission for approval.
A case has been registered against Jain at Gomti Nagar Police Station under BNS Section 308 (5) (extortion) and Sections 7, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, police said.
In an official statement, the UP government stated that IAS Abhishek Prakash has violated the All India Services (conduct) rules -1968 section -3 and has been suspended with immediate effect, adding that prima face, the allegations against him have been been substantiated following initial investigation.
“Malicious intent of Invest UP CEO Abhishek Prakash, vested interest and unfair financial gain could be the reason for this…In the case, prima facie Abhishek Prakash has been found responsible. This is a violation of the All India Services (conduct) rules -1968 section -3. Abhishek Prakash is being suspended with immediate effect. Further disciplinary action will be taken against him as per IAS ( RR-2006),” the statement said.
Bareilly International City scam
The purported Bareilly International City project scam is the biggest corruption charge levelled against Abhishek Prakash during his tenure as DM. The project, being developed in Nariyawal, includes 600 acres of government land worth Rs 8000 crore, has been awarded to Raju Khandelwal, a builder who allegedly has close ties to Prakash.
BJP’s Mahesh Pandey has alleged that the IAS officer used administrative pressure to grab state-owned land in International City. Abhishek Prakash and his associates are being grilled by the ED even as accused the IAS officer of operating a nexus of land mafia in Bareilly, with builders including Raju Khandelwal, Vipin Agarwal and others, working under his “protection”.
IAS Abhishek Prakash served as the DM of Bareilly from July 31, 2012 to June 8, 2014.
